Mechanistic Variations of the Povarov Multicomponent Reaction and Related Processes

The Povarov reaction is a multicomponent process involving anilines, carbonyl compounds and activated olefins to afford tetrahydroquinolines. The mechanism of this domino reaction comprises a sequence of steps linking imine formation, a Mannich-type reaction and an intramolecular aromatic electrophilic substitution. Here we analyze the scope of the methodology, with a particular emphasis on mechanistic variations, new synthetic inputs, reaction modes, structural diversity originated from this process and its applications to organic chemistry.